Certified Payroll Resources

Practical guides on Davis-Bacon compliance, WH-347 certified payroll reporting, California eCPR XML export, AASHTOWare-compatible state DOT payroll files, and federal contracting — written for contractors in the field.

• 7 Days Left: The Old WH-347 Will Be Rejected Starting October 1

  October 1 is one week away. After that date, contracting agencies are required to reject any certified payroll submitted on the old WH-347 form. Here's what to do right now if you're mid-project, how to verify you're covered, and why WH347.io users don't need to do anything.

• New WH-347 FAQ: Your Questions Answered (2 Weeks Left)

  Two weeks until the old WH-347 is rejected. These are the questions federal contractors are actually asking right now — from whether you can finish a project on the old form to what to do if your software hasn't updated.

• Your WH-347 Transition Checklist — 3 Weeks to Go

  Three weeks until the old WH-347 is retired. Here's a numbered action checklist — confirm your software version, notify your subs, verify pending submissions, and archive what you've already filed — so you hit October 1 with nothing left to do.

• How to Tell If You're Using the New WH-347 Form (4 Weeks Left)

  September 30 is four weeks away. The new and old WH-347 forms look almost identical — but three specific markers tell you which version you're on. Here's exactly where to look and what you'll see.

• What Happens If You Submit the Old WH-347 After September 30?

  Five weeks until the deadline. After September 30, contracting agencies must reject any WH-347 submitted on the old form. Here's exactly what rejection means for your project — delayed payments, compliance flags, and how to recover if it happens to you.

• 6 Weeks Until the Old WH-347 Is Rejected: Are You Ready?

  September 30, 2026 is six weeks away. After that date, contracting agencies must reject any WH-347 submitted on the old form. Here's a three-question readiness check — and what to do if you're not there yet.

• Certified Payroll When Workers Switch Trades Mid-Week

  Workers who change classifications mid-week, projects with multiple wage determinations, and crews that shift composition week to week all create WH-347 headaches. Here's how to keep your certified payroll clean when the job doesn't fit neatly into one column.

• How Owner-Operators Report Themselves on the WH-347

  A sole owner working on their own federal contract occupies an unusual legal position — neither a standard employee nor fully exempt. Here's the DOL's guidance on owner-operator reporting, when you go on the WH-347 and when you don't, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.

• Texas Prevailing Wage and Certified Payroll: A Contractor's Guide

  Texas has no state prevailing wage law — but that doesn't mean Texas contractors are off the hook. Federal Davis-Bacon rules apply in full on federal projects, and TxDOT's federal-aid highway work comes with its own certified payroll requirements. Here's what Texas contractors need to know.

• Certified Payroll Record Retention: How Long to Keep Your Records

  Federal law requires certified payroll records to be retained for three years after project completion — but that's the floor, not the ceiling. Here's what documents you must keep, how state rules vary, and how to set up a digital retention system that makes audits manageable.

• QuickBooks and Certified Payroll: What QB Does and Doesn't Handle

  Millions of contractors run payroll through QuickBooks — but QuickBooks wasn't built for Davis-Bacon compliance. Here's what QuickBooks handles natively, where it falls short, and how to get from a QuickBooks paystub to a signed, submission-ready WH-347.

• Certified Payroll Fringe Benefits: Cash vs. Bona Fide Plan

  The prevailing wage includes two components — a basic hourly rate and a fringe benefit rate. How you satisfy the fringe requirement changes how Columns 6 and 7 of the WH-347 are filled in, and getting it wrong is one of the most common certified payroll compliance errors.

• How to Correct a WH-347 After It's Been Submitted

  Mistakes on a submitted WH-347 don't have to become compliance problems — if you handle them correctly. Here's how to make corrections on paper forms and software, when to notify the contracting agency, and the errors most likely to require a formal correction.

• What Is a Certified Payroll Report?

  If you've just won your first federal construction contract, you'll hear the term 'certified payroll' a lot. Here's exactly what it is, who has to file it, what it contains, and what happens if you get it wrong.

• Paystub Import for Certified Payroll

  If your workers are on ADP, Gusto, QuickBooks, or any other payroll system, that data already exists on a paystub. WH347.io can read the paystub and pre-fill your timecard automatically — here's how it works.

• New WH-347 Form: September 30, 2026 Deadline

  The old WH-347 certified payroll form expires September 30, 2026. Starting October 1, agencies must reject it. Here's what changed, why it matters, and how to make the switch before the deadline.

• California eCPR XML Export: Contractor's Guide

  California requires all contractors on public works projects to submit certified payroll electronically through the DIR's eCPR system. Here's what the requirements look like and how WH347.io generates a ready-to-upload XML file.

• How to Fill Out the WH-347 Form: 2026 Instructions

  A field-by-field guide to using the optional WH-347 form to present required weekly payroll information on covered federal construction contracts.

• Davis-Bacon Act Explained for Federal Contractors

  The Davis-Bacon Act has governed federal construction wages since 1931. Here's what prevailing wage requirements actually mean for your business and how to stay compliant.

• Why Spreadsheets Fail for Certified Payroll

  Spreadsheets seem like a natural fit for tracking payroll — until a DOL audit reveals a data-entry error from three months ago. Here's why purpose-built software makes more sense for certified payroll.

• 2026 Davis-Bacon Act Updates: Avoid the $10k+ Fine

  The DOL is using automated cross-referencing to catch wage and classification errors in 2026. Here's what federal contractors need to know to stay off the audit list.

• Certified vs. Regular Payroll: 5 Key Differences

  Stepping into federal work for the first time? Here are the five key differences between regular and certified payroll — and why confusing them can cost you a progress payment.

• Subcontractor Certified Payroll: Who's Responsible

  Subcontractors on federal projects are just as responsible for Davis-Bacon compliance as general contractors — but many don't realize it until they're audited. Here's what every sub needs to know.

• What Happens During a Davis-Bacon Audit

  A DOL audit of your certified payroll records can feel overwhelming — but contractors who keep clean, complete records have nothing to fear. Here's exactly what auditors look for and how to be ready.

• AASHTOWare Certified Payroll XML: State DOT Guide

  Most state Departments of Transportation use AASHTOWare Project to manage certified payroll on highway and infrastructure contracts. Here's what the Payroll XML format requires and how WH347.io exports a submission-ready file.

• WH-347 Fillable Form & Template: Official Download

  Get the official current WH-347 fillable form, verify its OMB number and expiration date, and compare the PDF template with online certified payroll workflows.

• WH-347 Common Mistakes — And How to Correct Them

  Most WH-347 errors aren't intentional — they're the result of misunderstanding the form, copying the wrong column, or not knowing a rule. Here are the 8 mistakes auditors see most often and exactly how to fix each one.

• WH-347 Statement of Compliance: Who Can Sign

  The Statement of Compliance on page 2 of the WH-347 is a legal document — not a formality. Here's who is authorized to sign it, what each checkbox actually means, and what happens if you sign something that turns out to be inaccurate.

• WH-347 Excel Template: Free vs. Software in 2026

  A WH-347 Excel template seems like the obvious solution — free, familiar, no new software to learn. Here's an honest look at what a template can and can't do, and when it starts costing you more than it saves.

• How to Report Apprentices on the WH-347 Form

  Apprentices are covered under Davis-Bacon but reported differently than journey-level workers. Here's who qualifies, what documentation is required, how to fill in each column, and what the 2025 form changes added to the apprentice section.

• WH-347 No Work Week: Certified Payroll with No Hours

  A week with no work on your federal project still requires a decision — submit a no-work report, or skip it? The answer depends on your contract, and getting it wrong can hold up payments. Here's exactly what to do.

• Prevailing Wage Certified Payroll: Contractor Guide

  Prevailing wage certified payroll is the system that keeps federal construction contracts honest. Here's exactly how prevailing wages work, how to report them on the WH-347, and what happens if you get it wrong.